Advice? I wanted a Bongo, but I fear I have bought a dog...

[MattWood]

Hello all, brace yoursleves it's a long post.

I bought a part-exed bongo September last year, when I bought it the dealer gave me a 6 month warrany and said thay had put a new head on it as a matter of course. In December it over heated and went back to the dealer, eventually I got it back again with the head skimmed.

In March, it overheated, a local mechanic diagnosed a water pump failure and replaced it.

Less than a week later it over heated again, the same mechanic looked at it, found a leaking clip, replaced the clip, bled the coolant and apologised.

A week later the temp gauge sudenly shot up and water burst out of the expansion tank. I called the original garage and they said that as another mechanic had touched it there was nothing they would/could do, and I was just outside of warranty anyway.

It was then towed to a bongo garage recommended by a friend of mine.

They have had it a while and done various tests. They say they can find no leaks and suggested I got the head tested. It's been tested, it is warped 4-5 thou and has some minor other problems.

The garage suggest that the problem might be that the block is warped and so everytime time the lead is skimmed and put back on it is ok for the short time until the head warps to the shape of the block at which point air/pressure creeps into the coolant system from the engine which inturn causes the water to blow out of the expansion tank due to excess pressure.

They suggested a new block and said that they were waiting to recieve a good engine from an insurance write off they had just bought. This engine arrived but it is no good afterall.

They have said I can wait for another engine, but this is just going on and on and on and on, so I thought I would post up for some advice before I give them any further instructions.

I'd really appreciete some impartial advice please?

Many thanks

Matt

[Velocette]

Hello all, brace yoursleves it's a long post.

I bought a part-exed bongo September last year, when I bought it the dealer gave me a 6 month warrany and said thay had put a new head on it as a matter of course. In December it over heated and went back to the dealer, eventually I got it back again with the head skimmed.

In March, it overheated, a local mechanic diagnosed a water pump failure and replaced it.

Less than a week later it over heated again, the same mechanic looked at it, found a leaking clip, replaced the clip, bled the coolant and apologised.

A week later the temp gauge sudenly shot up and water burst out of the expansion tank. I called the original garage and they said that as another mechanic had touched it there was nothing they would/could do, and I was just outside of warranty anyway.

It was then towed to a bongo garage recommended by a friend of mine.

They have had it a while and done various tests. They say they can find no leaks and suggested I got the head tested. It's been tested, it is warped 4-5 thou and has some minor other problems.

The garage suggest that the problem might be that the block is warped and so everytime time the lead is skimmed and put back on it is ok for the short time until the head warps to the shape of the block at which point air/pressure creeps into the coolant system from the engine which inturn causes the water to blow out of the expansion tank due to excess pressure.

They suggested a new block and said that they were waiting to recieve a good engine from an insurance write off they had just bought. This engine arrived but it is no good afterall.

They have said I can wait for another engine, but this is just going on and on and on and on, so I thought I would post up for some advice before I give them any further instructions.

I'd really appreciete some impartial advice please?

Many thanks

Matt

Where are you in the country? Was the head tested for cracks as well as flatness? is the 4 to 5 thou lengthways or width ways?

I don't think it means you have bought a dog, just one that hasn't been repaired properly, it may even have been fitted with a cheap pattern head (I have seen these mentioned on here I think).

ADS in Bristol will only fit a new head as a package which includes a new stat, rad, cambelt, and water pump. Eye wateringly expensive I know, I am just having such a job done by them. You wouldn't have called mine a dog it is a very good example for its year, just one of those things.

[MattWood]

Cheers, I'm in Aldershot and the van is in Newbury, the head was tested for cracks and flatness, but I don't know in what direction is it out.

[westonwarrior]

Newbury I guess thats discount trucks they wont steer you wrong
at least thats the feed back on here

[MattWood]

Thanks and you're right it's at Discount Trucks. They were recommended to me. Just to be clear I have no complaints about them, what they've said or what they have done. My problems with the van are just dragging on and I am meant to be going away in it the first weekend in July, which is beginning to look unlikely.

[mister munkey]

As has been said, you seem to be the victim of circumstance rather than luck but Jerry at Discount Trucks is the best hands it can be left in for an honest evaluation & professional repair.

If it can be sorted in time for your break, it will be but sometimes its best in the long run not to take shortcuts & rush these things.

Keep us posted.